BestPrivateTours.com - Pont du Gard & Avignon

OVERVIEW

The Pont du Gard is a notable ancient Roman aqueduct bridge that crosses the Gard River in southern France. It is part of a 50 km long aqueduct that runs between Uzès and Nîmes in the South of France.

Avignon is a UNESCO world heritage located in the Rhone Valley, it attracts lots of people especially for the visit of the Pope's palace dating back to the 14th century.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

We offer you a private customized tour of the most spectacular sights of Pont du Gard and Avignon with our comfortable and air conditioned Sedan/Van departing from the port of Marseille or your hotel. You will have a fluent English speaking Driver who will escort you through the discovery of the area.

You first stop will be at Pont du Gard, this impressive aqueduct constructed by the Romans in the 1st century AD and added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1985. It is the highest of all Roman aqueduct bridges and is the best preserved after the Aqueduct of Segovia.

You will continue your private excursion to Avignon and have free time for lunch.

The highlight of Avignon is the Pope's palace, the biggest gothic palace in the world. It gives an idea of the grand life under the seven French popes who built a miniature Vatican during their rule here. You can visit 25 rooms of it, including the ceremonial rooms, chapels, cloister, private papal apartments with priceless frescoes, and others.

The second main attraction is the St Bénezet bridge. This legendary bridge is a a very important symbol of the history of Avignon: in the Middle Ages, it was part of one of the most important pilgrimage routes between Italy and Spain. It would become essential to the pontifical court, which settled in Avignon in the 14th century.

The bridge was at that time the most direct link between the many residences that the cardinals had built, and the Popes' Palace situated inside Avignon's city walls.

Return to Marseille.